Andrew Mitchell: resignation latest

This comes after he was criticised for verbally abusing police officers in Downing Street.

There were allegations that the MP for Sutton Coldfield called a Downing Street police officer a pleb, something he strongly denies, he does however admit swearing at the officers.

The ongoing row started last month when newspapers alleged that he had verbally abused officers outside of Downing Street when he was asked to dismount his bike and use the side gate instead of the main to exit.

Andrew Mitchell MP strongly denied using the word pleb - an insult meaning 'commoner' but accepted that he did swear at the officer and apologised.

Pressure mounted on the MP to resign with angry scenes in Parliament on Wednesday, the first Prime Minister's questions since the row began.

In his resignation letter to Downing Street he denied calling the police officer a pleb but apologised for swearing:

"I did not, never have and never would call a police officer a "pleb" or a "moron" or use any of the other pejorative descriptions attributed to me.

"The offending comments and the reason for my apology to the police was my parting remark "I thought you guys were supposed to f**king help us".

"It was obviously very wrong of me to use such bad language and I am very sorry about it and grateful to the police officer for accepting my apology."

– Andrew Mitchell MP

The Prime Minister accepted his letter of resignation and in his reply said he understood why he was resigning and thanked him for his services but added:

"The incident in Downing Street was not acceptable and you were right to apologise for it"